'J^js 


ISTORICAL   DISCOURSE, 


BELIVEBED  IN  THB 


NEW   NORTH   CHURCH, 


OCTOBEK    1,    1854. 


BT 


ARTHUR    B.    FULLER, 


Publisbecl  toy  Request. 


BOSTON: 
CROSBY,    NICHOLS,    AND    COMPANY, 

111  Washington  Stkbet. 
1854. 


<^^ 


"/; 


DEC   9    1954 


»»> 


AN 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE, 


DELIVERED   IN    THE 


NEW   NOETH   CHUECH, 


OCTOBER    1,    18r,4. 


/ 
ARTHUR    B.    FULLER 


Pnltlislied  Ity  Retjiicst. 


BOSTON: 
CROSBY,    NICHOLS,    AND    COMTANY, 

111  Washington  Street. 
18  5  4. 


CAMBRIDGE: 
METCALF    ANI1    OOMPAN?,     PRINTERS    TO    THE     UNIVERSITY. 


DISCOURSE 


LET    THEM    SHOW    THE    FORMER    THINGS,   WHAT    THEY   BE,   THAT   WE    MAY 
CONSIDER    THEM. Isa.  xli.  22. 

A  CONTEMPLATION  of  the  past,  if  it  lead  to  emulation  of 
its  good  deeds  and  avoidance  of  its  errors,  if  it  stimulate 
men  to  do  nobly  by  showing  what  already  hath  been  thus 
done,  is  often  a  wise  employment  of  the  passing  hour. 
And  if  it  testify  the  undying  nature  of  virtue  by  showing 
that  each  true  action  lives  ever  in  its  effects,  such  medita- 
tion may  nerve  our  hearts  to  exertion  by  the  sweet  hope 
that  the  good  we  do  need  not  in  its  influence  slumber  in 
our  graves,  but  shall  live  on  when  the  poor  body  in  which 
the  active  spirit  once  dwelt  has  crumbled  to  the  dust. 

In  entering  once  more  our  house  of  worship,  which  has 
now  been  for  three  months  closed  in  order  to  be  remod- 
elled as  to  its  interior,  it  seems  fitting  to  vary  from  the 
routine  of  discourse  and  speak  of  somewhat  which  shall 
prompt  us  to  renewed  and  increased  effort  that  this  church 
of  the  fathers  shall  long  remain  a  monument  of  the  zeal 
and  piety  of  the  past,  and  a  witness  to  the  faith  and  self- 
sacrifice  of  the  present.  And  when  I  remember  that  this 
very  year  in  which  the  present  improvements  have  been 
made  completes  the  half-centiiry  since  the  dedication  of  this 
edifice,  I  seem  to  hear  a  voice,  speaking  in  the  words  of 
our  text,  and  saying  of  all  who  meet  here  this  day,  "  Let 
them  show  the  former  things,  what  they  be,  that  we  may 
consider  them."     Our  history  as  a  religious  society  is,  for 


this  country,  no  modern  one.  Just  one  hundred  and  forty 
years  have  passed  sincp  this  society  was  gathered  and  a 
church  erected  on  this  spot.  To  us,  under  God,  is  com- 
mitted the  carrying  forward  the  affairs  and  promoting  the 
spiritual  interests  of  one  of  the  most  ancient  societies  in 
our  land.  Let  us,  then,  endeavor  this  morning  to  "  show 
the  former  things,  what  they  be, "  and  may  their  consider- 
ation stir  us  to  further  exertion  to  carry  on  the  good  work 
the  founders  of  this  church  so  well  begun.  The  limits  of 
my  discourse  will  compel  brevity,  nor  does  a  single  hour 
suffice  for  more  than  the  bare  enumeration  of  events  which 
have  occupied  so  many  years  in  transpiring.  In  the  year 
1712,  "  seventeen  substantial  mechanics, "  *  members  of 
the  Old  North,  or  Second  Church,  united  themselves 
together  to  build  an  additional  church  in  this  part  of  the 
city,  then  the  most  flourishing  and  considered  the  most 
desirable  for  residences  in  Boston.  They  petitioned  the 
Old  North  for  leave  to  proceed  in  the  matter,  which  being 
duly  granted,  they  went  forward  to  the  work  with  much 
prayer  and  earnest  faith  united  with  zeal  and  energetic 
action.  A  wooden  building  was  erected  on  the  present 
site,  the  land  having  been  purchased  of  Colonel  Thomas 
Hutchinson.  This  edifice  was  solemnly  dedicated  to  God 
on  the  5th  of  May,  1714.  It  was  comparatively  a  small 
building,  constructed  on  a  very  different  plan  from  our 
present  church,  having  the  pulpit  in  the  centre.  The  plan 
of  this  house  is  still  in  existence,  and  shows  the  very  great 
difference  between  the  architectural  taste  of  that  day  and 
our  own.  The  society  which  styled  itself  "  The  New 
North  Church, "  in  distinction  from  the  "  Old  North, " 
after  some  delay,  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  a  pastor,  and 
elected  to  that  office  Mr.  John  Webb,  then  chaplain  at 
Castle  William,  now  Fort  Independence.  He  was  or- 
dained on  the  20th  of  October,  1714,  and  on  the  evening  of 

*  Sec  Appendix,  Note  A. 


the  same  day  the  church  covenant  was  assented  to  in 
public,  it  having  been  privately  signed  by  most  of  the 
members  on  the  day  when  the  church  was  dedicated.* 

The  early  ministry  of  Mr.  Webb  was  eminently  peace- 
ful and  prosperous,  and  so  would  it,  probably,  long  have 
continued,  had  it  not  been  determined  to  settle  a  colleague 
pastor,  according  to  the  custom  of  that  period.  Tlie  church- 
members,  though  claiming  the  exclusive  right  to  choose  a 
pastor,  as  was  then  the  practice,  yet  decided  to  allow  the 
congregation,  consisting  both  of  church-members  and  wor- 
shippers not  connected  with  the  church,  to  confirm  or 
reject  their  choice.  The  church,  by  a  decided  majority, 
chose  Rev.  Peter  Thacher,  then  a  settled  pastor  at  Wey- 
mouth. At  the  ensuing  meeting  of  the  congregation,  some 
thirty-nine  members  of  the  congregation  and  six  church- 
members  protested  against  this  choice,  and  withdrew  from 
the  meeting,  f  Forty-six  votes  were  given  for  Mr.  Thacher, 
who  was  then  declared  elected.  This  is  scarcely  the  time 
to  revive  an  ancient  controversy ;  suffice  it  to  say,  that 
while  the  New  North  Church  doubtless  made  a  mistake  in 
persisting  in  settling  Mr.  Thacher  with  only  a  majority  of 
one  in  his  favor,  and  had  better  have  exhibited  a  more 
conciliatory  spirit,  yet  the  brethren  styling  themselves 
aggrieved,  while  probably  conscientious  in  their  original 
opposition,  yet  by  their  persistency  and  grossly  indecorous 
conduct  at  the  installation  of  Mr.  Thacher,  exhibited  a 
temper  and  spirit  hardly  reconcilable  with  the  Gospel 
standard.  They  ultimately  withdrew  and  established  the 
"  New  Brick  Church, "  and  in  process  of  time  were  as  a 
society  united  with  the  Old  North,  and  the  societies  thus 
united  are  now  called  the  "  Second  Church. "  The  con- 
troversy, we  may  trust,  is  at  rest  for  ever,  while  the  kindliest 
feelings  have  succeeded  the  ancient  bitterness.  Mr.  Thacher 
was  installed   on  the  27th  of  January,  1720,  and,  after 

*NoteB.  tNoteC. 


an  active  and  devoted  ministry,  died  February  26th,  1738. 
He  was  considered  quite  metaphysical  in  his  preaching, 
but  was  a  man  of  great  learning  and  most  devout  and 
fervent  in  spirit.  So  successful  was  his  ministry,  that 
during  its  continuance,  in  1730,  the  ancient  church  edifice 
was  enlarged  to  double  its  original  proportions. 

It  was  decided  to  settle  another  colleague  pastor,  and 
after  calling  one  or  more  clergymen  to  the  post  who  de- 
clined the  invitation,  Mr.  Andrew  Eliot  was  selected,  and 
his  ordination  took  place  April  14th,  1742.  Mr.  Eliot 
preached  his  own  ordination  sermon,  as  had  Mr.  Webb 
before  him,  and  as  was  the  custom  of  that  period.  Eight 
years  after.  Rev.  John  Webb,  the  first  pastor  of  the  church, 
departed  this  life  to  enter  upon  his  reward.  I  find  him 
characterized  as  a  man  of  much  learning  and  truly  elo- 
quent in  his  enforcement  of  Gospel  truth.  "  His  voice," 
says  Rev.  John  Eliot,  in  a  discourse  delivered  at  the  dedi- 
cation of  this  house,  "  was  sonorous  and  musical ;  his 
manner  pathetic,  with  great  piety  and  seriousness,  zeal 
and  animation.  "  "  He  was, "  says  Rev.  Dr.  Freeman,  "  a 
lover  of  good  men.  Nor  was  his  love  confined  to  any  de- 
nomination ;  wherever  he  saw  the  Divine  image,  it  gained 
his  affection  and  esteem ;  yet  he  was  steady  to  his  prin- 
ciples, ind  would  never  give  up  any  truth,  either  out  of 
fear  or  complaisance.  It  is  with  pleasure  I  add,  that  he 
grew  in  candor  and  charity  for  those  who  differed  from 
him,  the  nearer  he  approached  to  that  world  where  perfect 
love  reigns." 

Up  to  this  time  it  was  not  customary  to  read  from  the 
Sacred  Scriptures  during  public  service,  but  in  1750  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Holmes  presented  a  copy  of  the  Bible  to  the 
society,  which  copy  has  been  in  use  for  public  worship  from 
that  time  till  about  one  year  ago  ;  so  that  for  more  than 
one  hundred  years  the  same  book  had  been  used  by  our 
fathers  and  by  us,  till  its  pages  had  become  dim  and  worn 
with  age.     For  more  than  another  century  may  it  be  pre- 


served  by  this  society  as  a  precious  and  sacred  memorial. 
In  1772  another  innovation  was  made,  by  discontinuing 
the  alternate  reading  and  singing  of  the  hymns  line  by 
line.  This  change  at  first  gave  great  offence,  and  was 
regarded  as  a  new  measure  which  would  prove  very  detri- 
mental to  true  religion ;  but  Religion  endures  many  changes 
of  her  vesture,  provided  her  essential  nature  remain  undis- 
turbed. Not  till  November,  1823,  was  an  organ  used  by 
this  society ;  an  innovation  which  likewise  was  at  first  re- 
garded with  a  degree  of  sadness  by  many  conscientious 
persons.*  It  is  instructive  to  find  that  no  progressive  step 
has  ever  been  taken  by  this  society,  and  the  same  is  prob- 
ably true  of  the  world  at  large,  without  being  at  the  time 
opposed  as  a  dangerous  innovation,  and  mistrusted  as  of 
perilous  tendency.  This  fact  should  make  us  tolerant  of 
some  degree  of  change,  and  ready  to  listen  candidly  to 
propositions  for  the  advancement  of  what  we  all  have  at 
heart,  adopting  as  our  motto,  "  Prove  all  things,  holding 
fast  all  and  only  that  which  we  are  sure  is  good." 

But  troublous  times  were  approaching  both  for  the  coun- 
try and  the  Boston  churches.  Dr.  Eliot  sympathized 
heartily  in  the  popular  indignation  at  British  oppression, 
and  even  in  1763  wrote  to  a  friend  in  Great  Britain  in  the 
following  prophetic  strain  :  "  If  the  measures  of  your  gov- 
ernment are  not  changed,  depend  upon  it  the  Colonies  will 
be  precipitated  into  a  contest  for  which  they  are  badly  pre- 
pared, but  which  will  terminate  in  their  independence  upon 
the  mother  country.  This  event  must  take  place,  in  the 
course  of  nature,  before  a  great  many  years  are  past."  In 
1775  the  New  North  Church  contained  regularly  the  largest 
congregation  then  assembled  in  this  town,  and  the  society 
was  at  the  height  of  its  prosperity  under  the  efficient  and 
devoted  labors  of  its  pastor.  But  in  that  year  Boston  was 
besieged,  and  of  her  churches  some  were  demolished,  others 

*  Note  D. 


8 

desecrated,  all  weakened.  During  this  trying  period  Dr. 
Eliot  remained  in  the  town  by  compulsion  of  the  British ; 
his  church  was  regularly  opened  for  public  worship,  and  its 
pastor  was  of  great  comfort  to  such  of  the  people  of  the 
town  as  then  remained  and  sympathized  with  their  coun- 
try in  its  effort  for  freedom.  He  suffered  much,  however, 
from  depression  of  spirits,  separated  from  his  family,  and 
most  of  his  parish  being  absent  likewise.  He  never 
entirely  recovered  from  this  period  of  harassment  and 
anxiety,  and  died  on  the  13th  of  September,  1778,  not  being 
spared  to  witness  the  glorious  realization  of  his  early 
prophecy  as  to  our  national  independence.  From  the  tes- 
timony of  his  contemporaries,  and  from  well-authenticated 
tradition,  we  judge  Dr.  Eliot  to  have  been  a  man  of  no  com- 
mon power.  Bold  and  earnest  in  manner,  stern  yet  truthful 
in  his  rebukes,  clear  and  forcible  in  his  discourses,  devoted 
as  a  pastor,  he  secured  respect  and  inspired  almost  awe  in 
those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  During  his  ministry 
he  was  chosen  President  of  Harvard  University,  an  office 
which  he  declined,  but  would  have  filled  with  dignity  and 
honor.  Liberal  in  his  feelings,  and  ministerial  intercourse, 
he  was  yet  firm  in  his  adherence  to  what  he  believed  the 
distinguishing  doctrines  of  the  Gospel.  His  most  prom- 
inent characteristic,  perhaps,  was  an  ardent  love  of  liberty, 
desiring  it  not  for  himself  alone,  as,  alas !  too  many  do,  but 
for  all  men  likewise,  without  distinction  of  national  origin. 
"  He  was,"  says  his  son,  in  some  historical  notices  of  this 
society, "  always  a  zealous  opposer  of  African  slavery.  Many 
people  in  Boston  had  slaves  for  their  family  servants.  Soon 
after  his  marriage,  a  sum  of  money  was  subscribed  by  his 
friends  sufficient  to  buy  a  black  boy  for  him ;  but  he  de- 
clined the  present,  unless  he  might  be  permitted  to  put  him 
as  an  apprentice  to  some  business  when  he  should  be  of  a 
suitable  age,  and  at  the  termination  of  his  apprenticeship 
he  should  be  a  freeman."  Thus  early  do  we  have  tokens 
of  the  religious  conscience  testifying  against  slavery,  then 


9 

dominant  even  in  New  England ;  thus  early  did  the  min- 
istry of  this  ancient  church  protest  against  the  sinful  insti- 
tution of  slavery. 

In  looking  about  for  a  successor  to  the  venerable  Eliot, 
none  seemed  to  the  society,  upon  the  whole,  so  worthy  or 
so  well  adapted  to  their  wants  as  his  son,  John  Eliot,  a 
man  of  a  less  stern  demeanor  than  his  father,  with  the 
same  firm  attachment  to  principle.  He  was  accordingly 
chosen  to  that  position  hallowed  by  all  the  religious  asso- 
ciations of  his  childhood,  and  ordained  as  pastor  of  this 
church  November  3, 1779.  Under  his  prosperous  ministry 
the  society  soon  felt  strong  enough  to  build  anew,  and,  in- 
stead of  the  repairs  which  were  at  first  contemplated,  this 
spacious  edifice  arose,  a  monument  both  of  the  taste  and 
zeal  of  the  fathers.  Its  corner-stone  was  laid  September 
23,  1802,  and  this  church  dedicated  May  2,  1804,  just  a 
half-century  ago  the  present  year.  Long  may  it  stand,  in 
attestation  of  the  piety  and  self-sacrifice  of  those  who  erect- 
ed it  and  left  it  as  a  precious  heritage  to  their  children  I 
Let  me  rejoice  with  you  to-day,  that  in  the  recent  altera- 
tions none  of  its  essential  features  have  been  changed, 
while  the  conveniences  of  the  present  time  have  been  ju- 
diciously added  to  the  substantial  workmanship  of  a  past 
era.* 

One  year  before  the  dedication  of  the  church  the  society 
was  incorporated  by  a  special  act  of  the  legislature  as 
"  The  New  North  Religious  Society  in  the  Town  of  Bos- 
ton "  a  name  which  it  has  since  legally  borne,  though  still 
usually  termed  the  "  New  North  Church."-  Nine  years 
after  the  dedication  this  society  was  heavily  bereaved  by 
the  death  of  Dr.  Eliot,  and  sincerely  mourned  his  loss.  He 
died  February  14th,  1813.  It  was  the  Sabbath  day :  meet 
that  upon  such  his  gentle  spirit  should  enter  upon  its  rest! 
It  was  communion  day  with  the   church  :   fitting  was  it 

*  Note  E. 


10 

that  at  such  an  hour  he  who  so  often  had  communed  in 
a  loving  spirit  with  the  Church  on  earth  should  join  the 
communion  of  the  "  general  assembly  and  Church  of  the 
first-born  in  heaven."  *  When  asked  by  the  venerable 
Dr.  Lathrop  of  the  Second  Church,  "  My  friend,  are  you 
prepared  for  the  worst  ?  "  he  answered,  "  I  know  where  I 
have  placed  my  hopes,  and  there  I  am  contented  to  rest." 
Dr.  Eliot,  as  well  as  his  father,  was  a  friend  of  sound  learn- 
ing in  our  time-honored  University  at  Cambridge.  A  mem- 
ber of  its  Corporation,  he  unweariedly  sought  its  welfare. 

We  come  now  to  times  more  within  the  remembrance 
of  many  present,  nor  need  I  be  so  particular  in  speaking 
of  events  with  which  you  are  more  familiar  than  I,  or  of 
my  predecessors  in  the  ministry,  who  were  better  known 
by  you  than  by  me. 

Mr.  Francis  Parkman  was  chosen  the  successor  of  Dr. 
Eliot  in  the  pastoral  ofhce,  and  ordained  December  8th, 
1813.  The  sermon  at  the  ordination  was  preached  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Channing,  the  charge  was  by  Rev.  Dr.  Lathrop 
of  the  Second  Church,  the  right-hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Tuckerman  of  Chelsea,  the  ordaining  prayer  by  Rev. 
President  Kirkland  ;  names  eminent  and  honored  in  all 
our  churches,  and  hallowed  in  the  memory  of  all  who  love 
truth  and  goodness.  After  a  ministry  of  nearly  thirty 
years  Rev.  Dr.  Parkman  requested  his  people  to  choose  a 
colleague,  and  Mr.  Amos  Smith  was  elected  to  that  office, 
and  ordained  December  7th,  1S42.  The  society  were  not 
privileged  to  retain  his  services  for  many  years,  as  in  June, 
1846,  he  resigned  his  office,  and  was  subsequently  installed 
as  pastor  of  the  Unitarian  church  in  Leominster,  over 
which  he  still  has  charge.  Two  years  afterward  Dr.  Park- 
man  also  resigned  his  pastorship,  and  on  January  28th, 
1849,  preached  a  farewell  discourse  in  this  house,  in  which 
he  reviewed  the  incidents  of  his  ministry.     The  discourse 

"  Note  F. 


11 

was  printed,  and  is  in  the  possession  of  many  of  you.  Rev. 
Dr.  Parkman  died  November  12th,  1852.  He  was  an 
earnest  friend  of  Harvard  University,  and  his  genial  hospi- 
tality will  long  cause  him  to  be  remembered  by  a  large 
circle  of  friends. 

Dr.  Parkman  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Joshua  Young,  who 
was  ordained  pastor  of  this  church  February  1st,  1849.  His 
ministry  in  this  city  was  not  of  long  continuance,  as  in 
July,  1852,  he  resigned  his  pastoral  charge,  and  was  sub- 
sequently settled  over  the  Unitarian  society  in  Burling- 
ton, Vermont. 

And  now,  my  friends,  we  come  to  a  period  certainly  of 
deep  interest  to  myself,  the  commencement  of  my  own 
ministry  among  you,  which  has  continued  only  since  J«n6 
1st,  1853.*  The  history  of  that  ministry  is  yet  to  be  writ- 
ten, and  must  be  written  by  another  hand  than  mine.  God 
grant  that  it  may  be  fruitful  of  good  to  you  as  a  ^ciety, 
and  may  be  instrumental  in  advancing  not  alone  your  tem- 
poral, but,  what  is  of  far  higher  value,  your  spiritual  wel- 
fare !  What  can  I  say,  other  than  that  your  unanimity  and 
earnestness  of  request,  yea,  even  the  very  depression  and 
urgent  need  of  your  condition,  were  my  chief  inducements 
to  come  to  you ;  that  our  intercourse  has  been,  thus  far, 
uninterrupted  in  its  harmony ;  and  that,  while  willing  to 
spend  and  be  spent  in  your  service,  yet  upon  your  co-op- 
eration and  sympathy,  your  faith  and  works,  your  zeal  and 
fidelity,  your  prayers  and  devotion,  do  I,  under  God,  rely 
chiefly  for  any  measure  of  success  which  may  be  mine  ? 

A  few  miscellaneous  topics  relating  to  our  history  re- 
quire now  to  be  mentioned,  and  then  my  present  discourse 
will  be  ended. 

The  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  to  the  New  North 
Church  for  the  first  time  November  28th,  1714,  and  for 
one  hundred  and  forty  years  this  society   has   cherished 

*  Note  G. 


12 

the  solemn  rite  which  our  Saviour  left  as  a  memorial  of 
his  love  for  man,  whether  in  life  or  in  the  hour  when  he 
bowed  his  head  and  said,  "  It  is  finished."  On  the  22d 
of  June,  1854,  some  alterations  were  rnade  in  the  form  of 
our  church  organization,  specifying  the  objects  of  the 
church  relation  more  definitely  than  heretofore,  and  pro- 
viding, as  we  trust,  for  more  efficient  action.*  We  still 
retain,  however,  the  former  church  covenant,  long  in  use 
by  us  as  a  society,  while  allowing  those  who  prefer  it  to 
be  admitted  by  a  somewhat  simpler  form.  After  all,  no  or- 
ganization will  avail  us  anything,  except  we  seek  spiritual 
life  and  grace  from  the  great  Head  of  the  Church,  and  have 
more  and  more  of  our  Divine  Master's  self-consecrating 
spirit.  May  God  grant  the  influences  of  his  Holy  Spirit, 
reviving  his  work  among  us,  and  infusing  and  quickening 
in  us  a  stronger  and  more  devoted  zeal  for  the  attainment 
and  promotion  of  that  "  holiness  without  which  no  man 
shall  see  the  Lord."  Since  the  establishment  of  the 
church  there  have  been  admitted  to  its  membership  one 
thousand  four  hundred  and  sixty-nine  persons.  Ah  I  could 
that  goodly  company  meet  here  this  day,  the  house  would 
be  filled  with  members  of  this  church  of  Christ ;  but  most 
of  these  and  of  their  pastors  have  passed  on  to  commune 
with  their  Redeemer  in  heaven. 

For  about  one  hundred  years  in  the  history  of  this  so- 
ciety, the  rite  of  baptism  was  uniformly  administered  in  the 
church,  and  no  persons,  whether  children  or  adults,  were 
baptized  at  home  except  in  case  of  dangerous  illness.  So 
important  was  this  point  regarded,  that  it  is  recorded  that 
in  1770  a  Mr.  Cheever,  having  been  duly  proposed  for 
church-membership,  and  being  so  ill  as  to  make  it  im- 
probable he  would  recover,  desired  to  be  baptized  at  his 
own  residence.  The  subject  was  laid  before  the  church 
and  permission  was   granted,  but  the  ruling  elders  and 

"  Note  H. 


deacons  were  appointed  to  accompany  Dr.  Eliot  in  order 
to  sanction  the  ceremony  by  their  presence.  It  has  not 
seemed  to  the  pastors  of  this  church  in  latter  years  that 
the  place  sanctifies  the  rite,  but  the  rite  consecrates  either 
our  private  dwellings  or  that  great  temple  of  Nature  in 
which  certainly  many  baptisms  were  performed  in  the 
times  of  Jesus  and  the  Apostles.  Yet  probably  most 
pastors  have  a  preference  for  baptisms  in  church  as  a 
general  rule.  Since  this  church  was  founded,  seven  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  thirty-eight  are  recorded  as  having 
received  baptism  at  the  hands  of  its  pastors.* 

The  early  ministers  of  this  society  were  accustomed 
regularly  to  catechize  the  children  once  or  twice  a  year, 
and  for  a  long  time  this  was  the  only  separate  public 
religious  instruction  they  received.  The  New  North  Sun- 
day School  was  a  branch  of  the  Hancock  Sunday  School. 
It  was  formed,  though  with  considerable  opposition,  in 
May,  1829.  Rev.  F.  T.  Gray  was  its  first  Superintendent.! 
Its  first  meetings  were  held  in  the  vestry  situated  in  the 
tower  of  this  church ;  a  most  inconvenient  place,  and  so 
long  disused  that  its  very  existence  is  almost  forgotten. 
The  present  vestry  was  subsequently  made,  in  1834,  and 
in  that  a  Sabbath  School  has  been  assembled,  though 
with  frequent  interruptions,  until  the  present  day.  It  is 
now  comparatively  flourishing,  needing  only  a  deep  inter- 
est on  the  part  of  the  society  generally,  and  more  teachers 
added  to  our  present  devoted  band,  to  make  it  as  large 
and  as  prosperous  as  any  in  this  portion  of  our  city.  On 
closing  the  school  in  July,  as  we  were  compelled  to  do, 
that  alterations  might  be  made  in  the  vestry  as  well  as 
church,  the  school  numbered  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty  pupils,  a  larger  number  than  it  has  ever  contained 
before.  Let  it  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  chief  instruments 
of  our  spiritual  and  temporal  prosperity,  and  deserving  the 

"  Note  I.  t  Note  J. 


14 

interest,  activity,  and  prayers  of  us  all,  and  its  future  is  full 
of  hopefulness.  The  New  North  Sunday-School  Associ- 
ation was  formed  May  11th,  1854.*  Its  objects  are  to 
awaken  and  sustain  among  the  teachers  and  in  the  soci- 
ety a  general  interest  in  Sabbath-school  instruction.  It  is 
composed  not  only  of  teachers,  but  all  worshippers  in  this 
church  are  invited  to  become  members.  It  is  hoped,  also, 
that  it  will  be  an  efficient  auxiliary  to  the  general  "  Sun- 
day-School Society  "  connected  with  our  denomination. 

More  than  one  hundred  and  forty  years  ago  I  find  a 
record  is  made  of  frequent  conference  and  prayer  meetings, 
held  at  the  house  of  Matthew  Butler,  in  which  the  early 
founders  of  this  society  strengthened  themselves  for  the 
arduous  work  which  they  had  undertaken.  For  many 
years,  through  a  mistaken  fear  of  religious  fanaticism, 
which  is  the  last  danger  to  which,  as  a  religious  com- 
munion, we  are  exposed,  these  meetings  were  abandoned. 
Some  years  since,  however,  an  effort  was  made  to  re- 
instate them  among  the  means  for  spiritual  improvement 
which  we  as  a  society  would  employ.  A  meeting  of  this 
character  is  now  regularly  held  in  our  vestry  on  the  even- 
ing of  each  Thursday.  I  believe  such  meetings  have  been 
productive  of  much  good,  and  would  here  warmly  com- 
mend them,  as  an  instrumentality  which  you  cannot  too 
faithfully  use  or  too  carefully  cherish.  Let  us  return  to 
the  ancient  usage  of  this  society,  and,  as  did  its  founders, 
meet  often  together  for  prayer  and  religious  converse,  and 
may  God  grant  that  attendance  upon  these  meetings  may 
soon  become  as  general  as  attendance  upon  the  sanctuary, 
and  that  they  may  be  well  sustained  by  those  who  are 
ready  to  testify  to  God's  goodness,  and  seek  to  win  souls 
to  Christ;  that  there  may  be  many  ready  to  address  God 
in  prayer  and  to  sing  his  praise.  So  shall  Ho  "revive 
his  work  "  among  us. 

*  Note  K. 


15 

Another  instrumentality  of  good  among  us,  and  of  re- 
cent formation,  is  the  Eliot  Benevolent  Association.* 
This  is  composed  of  both  gentlemen  and  ladies,  who 
endeavor  to  promote  the  objects  for  which  it  was  formed, 
which,  as  specified  in  its  constitution,  arc  the  relief  of  the 
destitute,  the  support  of  religious  institutions,  and  mutual 
acquaintance  and  friendship  among  its  members.  The 
Association  was  organized  October  18th,  1853,  and  during 
its  short  history  has  been  found  pleasant  and  useful.  It 
takes  the  place  of  any  sewing-circle,  being  founded  on  a 
somewhat  broader  basis  and  to  promote  a  wider  class  of 
interests. 

As  early  as  the  year  1807,  we  find  it  recorded  that  "  a 
letter  was  read  from  Messrs.  John  W.  Quincy,  Thomas 
Dean,  and  Samuel  Beals,  in  behalf  of  twenty-four  young 
gentlemen  of  the  society,  requesting  the  approbation  and 
support  of  the  (Standing)  Committee  towards  establishing 
a  Library  for  the  benefit  of  the  society."  At  the  annual 
meeting  this  request  was  acted  upon  by  declining  to  give 
the  aid  as  a  society,  though  speaking  favorably  of  the 
project.  I  find  no  account  or  tradition  of  such  a  library, 
nor  is  it  probable  that  any  other  than  that  belonging  to 
the  Sabbath  School  has  existed  till  recently.  About  a 
year  since,  a  Parish  Library  was  formed,  through  aid  de- 
rived from  the  Eliot  Benevolent  Association,  and  regularly, 
at  the  close  of  the  afternoon  Sabbath  service,  is  opened  for 
the  free  delivery  of  its  books  to  all  members  of  this  parish. 
The  Library  is  worthy  of  more  extensive  encouragement 
and  support,  and  the  volumes  it  contains  much  better  de- 
serve perusal  than  most  of  the  lighter  literature  of  the  day. 

And  now,  my  friends,  we  meet  together  again  in  this 
house  we  love.  We  owe  and  would  pay  a  tribute  of 
gratitude  to  the  Committee  by  whom  these  alterations 
have  been  so  judiciously  made,  and  to  those  whose  gen- 

*  Note  L. 


16 

erous  exertions  and  contributions  *  have  enabled  us  to 
complete  them  without  incurring  additional  indebtedness. 
We  owe  thanks,  likewise,  to  those  religious  societies!  in  ^^^^ 
city  who  kindly  proffered  to  us  a  home  in  their  several  sanc- 
tuaries while  we  were  deprived,  for  the  time,  of  our  own. 
But  more  than  all  we  owe  devout  thanksgiving  unto  God, 
who  has  spared  our  lives  during  the  past  season  when  the 
pestilence  has  walked  abroad  at  noonday,  and  so  many 
have  gone  down  to  their  last  earthly  resting-places.  It  is 
a  noticeable  fact,  that  while  Death  has  removed  some  of 
our  kindred,  not  one  of  the  usual  worshippers  in  this 
house,  whether  young  or  old,  has  deceased  during  the 
three  months  in  which  our  church  has  been  closed.  We 
enter  again  this  loved  sanctuary  ;  there  are  sacred  memo- 
ries in  our  minds  at  this  hour,  as  we  recall  the  history  of 
this  venerable  society.  There  is  devout  gratitude  when 
we  think  of  the  providence  which  has  watched  over  our 
fathers,  and  still  watches  over  us.  There  is  hope  for  the 
future  when  we  rely  upon  the  united  and  faithful  labors 
of  us  all,  with  Heaven's  blessing  never  withheld  from  those 
who  diligently  seek  it.  Yes,  1  dare  use  that  word  hope, 
though  not  without  hesitation.  For  a  series  of  years  the 
native  population  has  been  gradually  receding  from  some 
parts  of  the  city,  and  this  church,  as  well  as  others,  has, 
from  that  and  other  causes,  lost  a  large  number  of  once 
active  and  devoted  members.  Nor  should  I  dare  to  speak 
of  hope,  did  I  not  feel  a  strong  confidence  that  you  will 
labor  earnestly  to  maintain  religious  institutions  in  this 
house,  both  for  yourselves  and  your  children,  and  that  you 
will  strive  that  this  society  shall  not  be  numbered  with  the 
things  which  have  perished  without  much  faithful  endeavor 
on  your  part  to  keep  alive  the  fire  of  incense  upon  this  an- 
cient altar.  This  cannot  be  done  without  your  fidelity  and 
zeal ;  without  your  readiness  to  make  much  sacrifice  both 

« 

*  Note  M.  t  Note  N. 


17 

of  ease  and  of  that  money  *  which  is  so  often,  alas  I  pre- 
ferred to  religion.  Above  all,  let  us  trust  in  God.  Let  lis 
not  put  our  trust  and  dependence  upon  mere  beauty  of 
architecture  or  earthly  appliances,  but  on  His  grace  and 
the  reception  to  our  hearts  of  the  Gospel  of  His  Son, —  on 
the  influences  of  that  Holy  Spirit  freely  imparted  to  those 
who  ask  it ;  and  let  our  prayer  to-day  be  in  those  words  of 
sacred  writ  which  formed  the  text  for  the  discourse,  when, 
a  half-century  ago,  this  church  was  dedicated  :  "  The  Lord 
our  God  be  with  us  as  he  was  with  our  fathers ;  let  him 
never  leave  or  forsake  us." 

*  Note  0. 


APPENDIX. 


NOTE  A.  —  Page  4. 
'  Those  who  first  associated  themselves  for  the  purpose  of  es- 
tablishing the  New  North  Church  were  Solomon  Townsend, 
Erasmus  Stevens,  Moses  Pierce,  Caleb  Lyman,  John  Pecker, 
Alexander  Sears,  Ebenezer  Clough,  John  Goldthwait,  Samuel 
Gardner,  William  Parkman,  John  Barrett,  Isaac  Pierce,  Joshua 
Cheever,  Matthew  Butler,  Elias  Townsend,  John  GofF,  James 
Bai'nard. 

NOTE  B,  —  Page  5. 

This  Church  Covenant  was  as  follows :  — 

"  We,  whose  names  are  subscribed,  apprehending  ourselves 
called  of  God  into  the  church  state  of  the  Gospel,  do,  first  of  all, 
confess  ourselves  unworthy  to  be  so  highly  favored  of  the  Lord, 
and  admire  that  free  and  rich  grace  of  his,  which  triumphs  over  so 
great  unworthiness  ;  and  then,  with  a  humble  reliance  upon  the 
aids  of  grace  therein  promised  to  them  that,  in  a  sense  of  their 
own  inability  to  do  any  good  thing,  do  humbly  wait  upon  him  for 
all,  we  do  thankfully  lay  hold  on  his  covenant,  and  would  do  the 
things  that  please  him. 

"  We  declare  our  serious  belief  of  the  Christian  religion,  con- 
tained in  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  and  as  exhibited  in  the  confession  of 
faith  received  in  our  church  ;  heartily  resolving  to  conform  our  lives 
to  the  rule  of  that  holy  religion,  so  long  as  we  live  in  this  world. 

"  We  give  ourselves  to  the  Lord  Jehovah,  who  is  the  Father,  Son 
and  Holy  Ghost ;  and  avouch  him  to  be  our  God,  our  Father,  our 
Saviour  and  Leader,  and  receive  him  as  our  portion. 

"We  give  up  ourselves  unto  the  blessed  Jesus,  who  is  the  Lord 
Jehovah,  and  adhere  to  him  as  the  head  of  his  people  in  the  cove- 


20 

nant  of  God,  and  rely  upon  him  as  our  Prophet,  our  Priest,  and 
our  King,  to  bring  us  into  eternal  blessedness. 

"  We  acknowledge  our  everlasting  and  indispensable  obligations 
to  glorify  God  in  all  the  duties  of  a  godly,  sober,  righteous  life ; 
and  very  particularly  in  the  duties  of  a  church  state,  and  a  body 
of  people  associated  for  an  obedience  to  him,  and  enjoyment  of 
him,  in  all  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel.  And  we  therefore  de- 
pend upon  his  gracious  assistance  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  the 
duties  thus  incumbent  upon  us. 

"  We  desire  and  intend,  and  with  dependence  upon  promised  and 
powerful  grace,  we  engage  to  walk  together  as  a  church  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  faith  and  order  of  the  Gospel,  so  far  as 
we  shall  have  the  same  revealed  unto  us,  and  will  conscientiously 
attend  the  worship  of  God,  the  sacraments  of  the  New  Testament, 
and  the  discipline  of  his  kingdom  and  all  his  holy  instructions,  in 
communion  with  one  another;  —  and  that  we  will  lovingly  watch 
over  one  another,  carefully  avoid  stumbling-blocks  and  conten- 
tions, as  becomes  a  people  whom  the  Lord  has  bound  up  together 
in  the  bundle  of  life. 

"  At  the  same  time,  we  also  present  our  offspring  with  us  unto  the 
Lord,  purposing  with  his  help  to  do  our  part  in  the  methods  of  a 
religious  education,  that  they  may  be  the  Lord's. 

"  And  all  this  we  do,  flying  to  the  blood  of  the  everlasting  cove- 
nants for  the  pardon  of  our  many  errors,  and  praying  that  the 
glorious  Lord,  who  is  the  great  Shepherd,  would  prepare  and 
strengthen  us  for  every  good  work,  to  do  his  will,  working  in  us 
that  which  is  well  pleasing  in  his  sight,  to  whom  be  glory  for 
ever.     Amen." 

Signed  by  John  Webb,  Pastor,  Alexander  Sears,  Caleb  Ly- 
man, Ebenezer  Clough,  William  Parkman,  Elias  Townsend,  Ben- 
jamin Gerrish,  Samuel  Gardner,  Matthew  Butler,  Moses  Pierce, 
John  Barrett,  Nathaniel  Kennry,  Lately  Gee,  Solomon  Towns- 
end,  Erasmus  Stevens,  Joshua  Cheever. 

NOTE  C.  —  Page  5. 

The  principal  objection  urged  against  Mr.  Thacher  was,  that, 
being  already  settled  over  the  church  in  Weymouth,  it  was  '•'■con- 
trary to  congregaiional  usage  and  ■principle''''  to  invite  him  to 


21 

settle  in  another  place.  Whether  this  was  so,  we  will  not  pretend 
to  decide,  but  certain  it  is  this  "  usage  and  principle  "  had  been 
previously  deviated  from  in  more  than  one  instance.  In  Rev. 
Henry  Ware's  History  of  the  Gathering  of  the  Second  Church, 
page  5,  ho  says  :  "  Mr.  Norton,  minister  of  Ipswich,  and  Mr. 
Davenport,  of  New  Haven,  both  of  them  among  the  distinguished 
men  of  that  period,  and  simdry  others  who  ivere  officers  in  other 
churches  hut  likely  to  remove  from  tvhere  they  ivere,  were  invited 
unsuccessfully  to  take  charge  of  this  infant  church.^''  Both  Nor- 
ton and  Davenport  were  afterwards,  and  while  retaining  their  re- 
spective places,  invited  to  the  First  Church,  and  both  accepted  the 
invitation  and  continued  in  Boston  till  death  closed  their  labors. 
"  Four  years  after,"  says  Mr.  Ware,  "  Mr.  John  Mayo,  who  on 
account  of  'some  difficulties  and  discouragements'  had  left  his 
church  in  Nosset,  Plymouth  County,  was  called  to  the  pastoral 
office  here,  and  accepted."  From  this  it  is  evident  that  the  action 
of  the  New  North  Church  was  not  unusual.  It  is  probable,  how- 
ever, that  there  were  other  circumstances,  personal,  local,  or  other- 
wise, of  which  we  have  no  account,  that  had  their  effect  in  pro- 
ducing the  great  excitement.  Mr.  Thacher  was  a  native  of  Boston, 
a  man  of  superior  talents,  and  an  eloquent  and  popular  preacher. 
He  had  been  settled  in  Weymouth  several  years,  and  his  people 
there  were  strongly  attached  to  him.  He  had  also  many  friends 
in  Boston  who  were  anxious  to  have  him  located  among  them,  and 
was  himself,  doubdess,  desirous  of  a  change.  It  was  under  these 
circumstances  that  the  New  North  Church,  by  a  vote  of  thirty-six 
out  of  forty-six,  invited  him  to  become  their  pastor,  as  colleague 
of  Mr.  Webb.  The  majority  in  his  favor,  when  the  congregation 
and  church  voted  together,  was  indeed  small ;  but  it  will  be  remem- 
bered that  the  churches  of  that  day  claimed  the  exclusive  right  to 
choose  the  pastor ;  a  right  only  waived  at  this  time  through  cour- 
tesy. The  character  of  Mr.  Webb  certainly  renders  it  improbable 
that  there  could  have  been  any  very  wide  departure  from  the  path 
of  right  or  established  usage.  It  was  said  of  him  by  one  who  had 
the  best  opportunity  of  knowing,  that  "  He  was  a  steady  friend  to 
the  order,  the  liberties,  and  the  principles  of  these  churches,  and 
openly  bore  his  testimony  against  every  deviation  from  them.  His 
courage  at  such  times  was  remarkable.  But  when  he  apprehended 
it  to  be  the  cause  of  God,  he  set  his  face  like  a  flint,  and  was  clad 


22 

with  zeal  as  a  cloak,  fearing  the  face  of  no  man."  Yet  Mr.  Webb 
warmly  approved  and  encouraged  the  choice  of  Mr.  Thacher,  and 
his  subsequent  installation. 

NOTE  D.  — Page  7. 

Early  in  the  history  of  this  society,  its  musical  affairs  were 
directed  by  a  committee  styled  the  "  Superintendents  of  Singers." 
They  appear  to  have  attended  very  faithfully  to  the  somewhat  diffi- 
cult duties  assigned  them.  In  later  times,  this  labor  has  been  no 
less  efficiently  performed  by  the  Standing  Committee. 

The  following  record  of  votes  is  found  in  relation  to  procuring 
an  organ :  — 

June,  1823.  A  proposal  to  place  the  organ  belonging  to  the 
Second  Church  in  our  gallery,  while  said  church  was  being  re- 
paired. —  Rejected. 

1823,  July  22d.     First  talk  of  an  organ  in  Standing  Committee. 
Aug.  3fZ.     Society  voted  that  it  was  expedient  to  procure  an 

organ,  and  appointed  a  committee  to  ascertain  expense  and  devise 
means  of  paying  for  it. 

Aug.  \lth.  Committee  reported  that  one  could  be  obtained  for 
$1,800,  another  for  $2,500,  and  recommended  contribution  and 
subscription.  Voted  to  have  an  organ,  and  a  committee  chosen  to 
carry  the  vote  into  effect. 

Aug.  31si.  Above  vote  reconsidered,  for  the  purpose  of  hav- 
ing the  question  taken  by  ballot. 

Sept.  1th.     Ballot  taken.     Yeas  42,  nays  11. 

Sept.  lith.     Contributions  for  organ,  $1,254.95. 

Oct.  bth.  Amount  collected  for  organ,  $1,431.95.  The  com- 
mittee were  ordered  to  procure  the  smallest  organ,  for  $1,700. 

The  day  it  was  first  used  is  not  stated. 

Oct.  ISth,  1823.  In  Singing  Committee,  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  procure  an  organist. 

1824,  Jan.  bth.  The  committee  on  organist  reported  that  they 
liad  engaged  Mr.  Asa  Fillebrown  as  organist  for  one  year  from  the 
20th  of  November  last,  at  $150  per  year,  and  a  lad  to  blow  the 
organ,  for  25  cents  per  Sunday. 

1826.  Voted  to  exchange  organ  for  a  larger.  Additional 
subscriptions,  $  603. 


23 


NOTE  E.  — Page  9. 

The  committee  to  remodel  the  house  as  to  its  interior  were 
Messrs.  Albert  Betteley,  William  P.  Howard,  and  Benjamin  Fes- 
senden. 

NOTE  F.  — Page  10. 

I  find  ample  evidence  of  the  true  Christian  charity  of  Dr.  Eliot, 
and  the  liberality  of  his  general  tone  of  thought :  a  liberality,  how- 
eyer,  far  removed  from  indifference  to  religious  truth,  or  the  prev- 
alence of  erroneous  opinion,  or  any  willingness  to  resign  faith  in 
Jesus  Christ  and  the  inspired  truth  he  hath  revealed. 

In  the  right-hand  of  fellowship  which  he  received  at  his  ordina- 
tion from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Howard,  of  the  West  Church,  occur  these 
just  words,  which  doubtless  met  a  response  in  the  heart  of  him  to 
whom  they  were  uttered.  Would  that  they  directed  the  ecclesias- 
tical conduct  of  every  minister  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus  ! 

"  Claiming  for  ourselves  the  right  of  private  judgment,  and  call- 
ing no  man  master  on  earth,  we  are  sensible  you  have  the  same 
rights,  and  therefore  assume  no  authority  over  your  faith.  Nor 
do  we  make  your  subscribing  to  our  creed,  or  any  creed  of  human 
composition,  a  condition  of  our  communion  and  friendship.  This 
would  be  going  back  to  Egypt,  laying  a  foundation  for  the  same 
tyranny  and  persecution  from  which  our  ancestors  fled,  and  estab- 
lishing Popery  under  a  new  form. 

"  Far  from  us  be  the  arrogance  and  impiety  of  thus  implicitly 
claiming  infallibility,  and  pretending  to  be  wiser  than  God.  And 
far  be  it  from  you,  my  brother,  ever  to  submit  to  so  unreasonable 
a  claim,  should  it  be  required  of  you  as  a  term  of  communion. 

"  So  long,  sir,  as  you  appear  to  make  the  Scriptures  the  rule  of 
your  faith  and  practice,  and  preach  not  yourself,  but  Christ  Jesus 
the  Lord,  and,  as  his  ambassador,  beseech  men  to  be  reconciled 
unto  God,  we  will  embrace,  assist,  and  support  you  as  a  brother." 

That  these  sentiments  found  full  acceptance  with  Dr.  Eliot,  all 
who  know  of  his  ministry  are  aware,  and  the  following  sentence  in 
his  sermon  delivered  at  the  dedication  of  this  church  likewise  evi- 
dences :  —  "  The  good  and  honest  heart  discovers  itself  in  individ- 
uals of  every  sect.     And  a  lesson  of  this  sort  we  may  learn,  that 


24 

too  much  stress  should  not  be  laid  upon  modes  a7id  forms,  nor  upon 
any  subjects  of  speculation.  Am  I  too  liberal  in  saying,  that  the 
wise  and  unwise  arc  to  be  found  among  every  denomination  of 
Christians,  and  that  all  sincere  inquirers  after  truth  are  true  Chris- 
tians, of  every  sentiment  and  persuasion  ?  To  believe  this  will  not 
injure  the  cause  of  virtue,  or  kindle  a  blush  on  the  cheek  of  that 
charity  which  hopeth  all  things,  which  endureth  all  things." 

NOTE  G.  — Page  11. 

The  order  of  services  at  the  Installation  was  as  follows  :  — 
Introductory  Prayer  by  Rev.  Amos  Smith,  of  Leominster  ; 
Reading  of  the  Scriptures,  Rev.  T.  S.  King,  of  Boston  ;  Sermon, 
Rev.  Andrew  P.  Peabody,  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  ;  Prayer  of  Instal- 
lation, Rev.  S.  K.  Lothrop,  D.  D.,  of  Boston  ;  Charge,  Rev.  Samuel 
Barrett,  D.  D.,  of  Boston  ;  Right-Hand  of  Fellowship,  Rev.  J.  I.  T. 
Coolidge,  of  Boston  ;  Address  to  the  Society,  Rev.  F.  D.  Hunting- 
ton, of  Boston  ;  Concluding  Prayer,  Rev.  Robert  Hassall,  of  Men- 
don. 

NOTE  H.  — Page  12. 

For7n  of  Organization,  adopted  unanimously  by  the  Church,  June 

22,  1854. 

Art.  1.  The  church  connected  with  the  New  North  Religious 
Society  shall  assume  no  sectarian  name,  desiring  simply  to  be 
known  as  a  branch  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Art.  2.  The  objects  of  this  church  shall  be  the  improvement  of 
our  own  moral  and  spiritual  condition,  mutual  advice,  sympathy, 
and  assistance  in  all  needed  ways,  the  promotion  of  benevolent 
causes,  and,  in  general,  the  advancement  of  the  spiritual  kingdom 
of  Christ  in  our  own  hearts,  in  our  families,  in  our  religious  soci- 
ety, in  our  community,  and  throughout  the  world. 

Art.  3.  Any  person  wishing  to  lead  the  Christian  life  and  to  pro- 
mote the  above-named  objects  of  our  organization  may  be  ad- 
mitted by  a  vote  of  the  members  of  the  church  present  at  any 
meeting,  and  shall  be  received  to  the  church  by  baptism,  when 
that  rite  has  not  been  previously  performed,  and  by  assenting  to 
the  church  covenant  annexed  ;  or,  in  place  of  the  latter,  by  simply 


25 

assenting  before  the  church  to  this  form :  "  You  receive  Jesus 
Christ  as  your  Lord  and  Master,  and  the  New  Testament  as  the 
rule  of  your  faith  and  practice,  and  you  will  endeavor  to  per- 
form all  known  duties."  Persons  may  be  admitted  from  other 
churches  by  a  vote  of  the  church,  and  without  any  other  public 
form. 

Art.  4.  A  business  committee  of  five  brethren  shall  be  annu- 
ally elected  in  October,  who  shall  take  charge  of  any  business  the 
church  may  refer  to  them,  and  report  their  action  from  time  to 
time  to  the  church.  A  committee  consisting  of  three  sisters  and 
two  brethren  of  the  church  shall  also  be  annually  chosen  to  visit  all 
in  the  church,  and,  as  far  as  practicable,  in  the  society  also,  in 
times  of  sickness  or  affliction,  or  when  kept  from  the  sanctuary  by 
the  infirmities  of  age.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  church-mem- 
ber to  report  any  such  cases  as  may  come  to  his  or  her  knowl- 
edge, either  at  the  next  church  meeting  or  directly  to  the  com- 
mittee ;  and  also  personally  to  visit  such  sick,  afflicted,  or  aged 
persons,  as  far  as  practicable.  Vacancies  occurring  in  either  com- 
mhlee  may  be  filled  at  any  meeting  of  the  church. 

Art.  5.  The  pastor,  or,  in  his  absence,  any  brother  whom  the 
church  may  at  the  time  appoint,  shall  preside  at  all  church  meet- 
ings. 

Art.  6.  The  rite  of  the  Lord's  Supper  shall  be  celebrated  at 
such  times  as  the  church  shall  from  time  to  time  determine  ;  and 
in  this  rite  all  persons  recognizing  Jesus  Christ  as  divinely  com- 
missioned of  God  for  the  instruction  and  salvation  of  men,  and 
desiring  to  commemorate  his  dying  love,  shall  be  invited  to  par- 
ticipate. 

Art.  7.  A  church  meeting  shall  be  regularly  held  on  some  even- 
ing of  the  week  previous  to  communion,  and  at  any  time  when 
notice  is  given  from  the  pulpit. 

Art.  8.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  members  of  the  church  to 
attend  all  the  meetings  of  the  church,  and  to  labor  faithfully  to  ad- 
vance its  objects  as  specified  in  the  second  article. 

Art.  9.  This  form  of  church  organization  may  be  amended  at 
any  regular  church  meeting,  by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  those  pres- 
ent, provided  due  notice  of  the  amendment  proposed  has  been 
submitted  at  the  previous  meeting. 
4 


26 

Covenant 

Used  in  the  Time  of  Increase  Mather^  in  the  Old  North  Church, 

and  adopted  in  the  Neru  North  Church,  Decemler  11,  1827. 

"  You  do,  in  this  solemn  presence,  give  up  yourself,  even  your 
whole  self,  to  the  true  God  in  Jesus  Christ,  promising  to  walk  with 
God  and  with  this  church  of  His,  in  all  His  holy  ordinances,  and 
to  yield  obedience  to  every  truth  of  His  which  has  been  or  shall 
be  made  known  to  you  as  your  duty,  the  Lord  assisting  you  by 
His  Spirit  and  grace. 

"  We,  then,  the  Church  of  Christ  in  this  place,  do  receive  you 
into  the  fellowship,  and  promise  to  walk  towards  you  and  to  watch 
over  you  as  a  member  of  this  church,  endeavoring  your  spiritual 
edification  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord." 

NOTE  L— Page  13. 

On  the  day  when  this  Discourse  was  delivered.  Deacon  John 
Barrett  Hammatt  and  Deacon  Robert  Lash  were  present.  The 
former  was  among  the  last  persons  baptized  by  Rev.  Dr.  Andrew 
Eliot.  He  was  baptized  in  1778.  The  latter  was  baptized  by 
Rev.  Dr.  John  Eliot,  November  7th,  1779.  It  is  an  interesting 
fact,  as  exemplifying  the  strict  observance  of  ordinances  in  those 
times,  and  the  preference  for  baptisms  in  the  church,  that  the  day 
on  which  Deacon  Lash  was  christened  in  the  church  was  also  the 
day  of  his  hirth.  There  was  probably  a  desire  on  the  part  of  his 
parents,  that  their  child  should  be  among  the  first  baptized  by  their 
new  pastor.  It  is  worthy  of  notice,  that  both  these  deacons  are  de- 
scendants from  the  original  founders  of  the  New  North  Church. 

NOTE  J.  — Page  13. 

As  early  as  April,  1818,  seats  in  the  New  North  Church  were 
assigned  "  to  the  children  who  attend  Sunday  schools  at  the  North 
End."  This  was  done  on  application  of  Messrs.  Josiah  Salisbury 
and  William  Thurston.  These  children  were  exclusively  from  the 
ranks  of  the  poor.  The  Sunday  schools  which  they  attended  were 
in  the  public  school-rooms.  In  1820,  seats  were  also  assigned  in 
the  gallery  to  the  boys  of  the  "  Boys'  Asylum,"  until  in  process 


27 

of  time  the  Asylum  was  merged  into  the  Farm  School  on  Thomp- 
son's Island.  Not  until  the  latter  portion  of  the  year  1828  was 
there  any  vestry  in  our  church.  During  that  year  a  vestry  was 
completed  in  the  tower,  at  a  cost  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-eight 
dollars.  In  May,  1829,  the  use  of  this  vestry  was  granted  for  the 
establishment  of  a  Sabbath  school,  on  application  of  Messrs.  F. 
T.  Gray  and  S.  I.  Beals. 

NOTE  K.  —  Page  14. 

It  may  be  useful  to  insert  here  the  Constitution  of  this  Associa- 
tion, as  it  is  hoped  its  membership  may  be  widely  extended. 

"  Preamble. 

"  Believing  it  desirable  to  form  an  Association  of  Teachers  and 
others  interested  in  Sunday-school  instruction,  we,  whose  names 
are  annexed,  do  hereby  organize  ourselves  under  the  following 

"  Constitution. 

'-'■  Art.  1.  Name.  —  The  name  of  this  society  shall  be  The 
New  North  Sunday-School  Association. 

"  Art.  2.  Membership.  — All  teachers  in  the  New  North  Sun- 
day School,  together  with  all  worshippers  in  the  church  connected 
with  this  Society,  may  become  members  of  this  society  by  paying 
annually  the  sum  of  twenty-five  cents  into  its  treasury.  Members 
of  '  The  Sunday-School  Society '  who  are  also  worshippers  in  the 
New  North  Church  shall  be  considered  as  members  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, without  the  payment  of  any  fee. 

"  Art.  3.  Officers.  —  The  officers  of  this  Association  shall  con- 
sist of  a  President,  Vice-President,  Treasurer,  Secretary,  and  two 
Librarians,  all  of  whom  shall  be  chosen  annually  in  October,  at 
which  time  also  the  Sunday  School  shall  be  thoroughly  organized 
for  the  year. 

"  Art.  4.  Duties.  —  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  President  to  pre- 
side at  the  meetings  of  the  Association,  and  he  shall  also  be  Su- 
perintendent of  the  Sabbath  School.  The  Vice-President  shall  per- 
form the  duties  of  the  President  in  his  absence,  and  shall  also  be 
the  Assistant  Superintendent  of  the  School.     The  Treasurer  shall 


28 

receive  all  moneys  which  shall  be  collected,  either  in  the  society 
or  Sunday  School,  shall  keep  a  careful  account  of  the  same,  and 
shall  give  a  quarterly  written  return  thereof  to  the  Association. 
The  Secretary  shall  keep  a  record  of  the  meetings  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, and  also  of  each  class  and  teacher  in  the  Sunday  School, 
which  shall  be  read  once  a  quarter  in  the  School.  The  Librarians 
shall  jointly  have  charge  of  the  Parish  and  Sunday-School  Libra- 
ries. It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  Teacher  to  call  at  the  home  of 
each  scholar  in  his  or  her  class  at  least  once  in  each  quarter. 

"  Art.  5th.  Meetings.  — The  annual  meeting  for  the  choice  of 
officers  and  other  business  shall  be  held  in  October,  and  quarterly 
meetings  shall  be  held  in  January,  April,  and  July.  Other  meet- 
ings of  the  Association  shall  be  held  whenever  notified  from  the 
pulpit.  At  these  meetings  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  member 
to  be  present.  At  any  meeting,  the  President  or  Vice-President 
may  propose  persons  as  teachers  in  the  Sunday  School,  and  when 
elected  they  may  hold  the  office  during  the  year,  provided  they  be 
reasonably  attentive  to  their  classes. 

"  Art.  6.  Discussions.  —  Some  subject  connected  with  the  in- 
tei'ests  of  the  School  shall  be  agreed  upon  at  each  quarterly  meet, 
ing  for  consideration  at  the  succeeding  quarterly  meeting. 

"  Art.  7.  Vacajicies.  —  Vacancies  in  the  list  of  officers  or 
teachers  may  be  filled  at  any  meeting  of  the  Association. 

'■'' Art.  S.  Amendments. — This  constitution  may  be  amended 
by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the  members  present  at  any  meeting, 
provided  due  notice  of  the  amendment  proposed  shall  have  been 
givan  at  the  previous  meeting." 

NOTE  L.  — Page  15. 

The  constitution  of  the  "  Eliot  Benevolent  Association"  is  here 
given,  with  the  expression  of  a  wish  that  all  worshippers  with  us 
should  become  members,  as  one  of  the  best  means  of  acquaint- 
ance and  friendship  in  the  society,  and  also  of  active  usefulness. 

"  Preamble. 

"  Believing  that  social  intercourse  and  benevolent  effort  are 
essential  to  the  vitality,  usefulness,  and  permanence  of  any  relig- 


29 

ious  society,  and  that  these  objects  can  better  be  secured  by  organ- 
ization than  by  purely  individual  exertion,  we,  being  chiefly  con- 
nected with  the  New  North  Rehgious  Society,  do  form  ourselves 
into  an  association,  and  adopt  the  following  constitution. 

"  Constitution. 

"  Art.  1.  Name.  —  The  name  of  this  society  shall  be  the  Eliot 
Benevolent  Association. 

"  Art.  2.  Objects.  —  Our  objects  shall  be  the  relief  of  the  desti- 
tute, the  support  of  religious  institutions,  and  mutual  acquaintance 
and  friendship  among  ourselves. 

"  Art.  3.  OjJlQcrs.  —  The  officers  of  this  Association  shall  con- 
sist of  four  Directresses,  six  Assistant  Directresses,  a  Secretary, 
and  Treasurer,  all  of  whom  shall  be  chosen  at  the  annual  meeting 
hereinafter  provided. 

"  Art.  4.  Duties.  — It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  four  Directresses 
to  preside  at  the  meetings  of  the  Association  in  rotation,  and  also, 
with  the  Assistant  Directresses,  to  arrange  work,  devise  plans,  and 
in  general  to  act  for  the  welfare  of  the  society.  Upon  the  Assist- 
ant Directresses  shall  also  devolve  the  duty  of  visiting  any  families 
connected  with  the  New  North  Religious  Society  not  members  of 
the  Association,  and  inviting  them  to  become  members.  The 
Secretary  and  Treasurer  shall  present  at  each  meeting  a  report  of 
the  proceedings  and  receipts  at  the  previous  meeting. 

"  Art.  5.  Order.  —  While  one  of  our  objects  is  social  inter- 
course, yet,  as  nothing  can  be  accomplished  without  order,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  both  officers  and  members  to  preserve  quiet  and 
attention  during  the  transaction  of  business,  which  shall  uniformly 
be  conducted  in  an  orderly  and  regular  manner. 

"  Art.  6.  Mcmhership.  —  This  association  shall  consist  of  both 
gentlemen  and  ladies,  who  shall  become  members  by  the  payment 
each  of  the  sum  of  fifty  cents  annually. 

"  Art.  7.  Meetings.  —  The  annual  meeting  of  this  Association 
shall  take  place  early  in  the  month  of  October,  and  other  meetings 
at  such  times  as  the  Association  shall  by  vote  determine,  or  a  ma- 
jority of  the  Directresses  deem  proper,  and  may  at  any  time  be 
appointed  from  the  pulpit. 

"  Art.  8.    Amendments.  —  This  constitution  may  be  amended  by 


30 

a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the  members  present  at  any  meeting,  pro- 
vided notice  of  the  intended  amendments  have  been  given  at  the 
previous  meeting." 

NOTE  M.  —  Page  16. 

The  committee  appointed  by  the  Standing  Committee  to  collect 
funds  1o  furnish  the  church  were  Messrs.  Wilham  A.  Krueger, 
S.  y^.  Krogman,  Henry  L.  Dalton.  They  have  attended  to  this 
du  y  with  much  fidelity  and  with  a  good  degree  of  success,  though 
it  is  to  be  regretted  that  a  sufficient  sum  has  not  yet  been  collected 
to  complete  the  furnishing  of  the  pews  throughout  the  house. 

NOTE  N.  — Page  16. 

Tlie  societies  which  tendered  to  the  New  North  Religious  Soci- 
ety an  invitation  to  worship  with  them  while  its  church  was  remod- 
elling are  the  Unitarian  Society  in  East  Boston,  the  "  Twelfth 
Congregational  Society,"  the  "  Bulfinch  Street  Church,"  and  the 
"  First  Universalist  Society."  All  these  invitations  were  cordially 
accepted,  and  many  of  our  number  availed  themselves  of  this  kind- 
ness from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath.  To  the  First  Universalist  Society 
we  are  under  particular  obligation,  as  the  use  of  its  house  was  ten- 
dered for  our  worship  whenever  not  in  use  by  that  society,  an  invi- 
tation of  which  we  availed  ourselves  by  holding  in  their  church  a 
Sunday-evening  service  during  the  month  of  July. 

NOTE  O.  — Page  17. 

The  New  North  Society  has  never  been  so  fortunate  as  to  be  the 
recipient  of  any  donation  or  benefaction  to  any  very  large  amount. 
Its  members  have  relied  on  their  own  exertions  to  meet  the  neces- 
sary extra  expenses,  which  on  some  occasions  have  been  large. 
Contributions  for  this  purpose  were  always  cheerfully  and  liberally 
made,  until,  owing  to  reduced  numbers,  the  burden  became  ex- 
ceedingly onerous.  The  society  then  felt  themselves  driven  to  the 
disagreeable  necessity  of  borrowing,  a  fact  which  is  much  to  be 
regretted.  This  course  was  continued  for  more  than  ten  years,  till 
1848,  when  the  debt  thus  incurred,  from  a  few  hundred  dollars, 
had  increased  to  the  sum  of  six  thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 
Since  that  time,  however,  by  earnest  and  generous  exertions,  the 


31 

society  has  been  able  to  meet  all  its  expenses  without  having  re- 
course to  loans,  although  these  expenses  (as  is  trno  of  thn  cxpenso 
of  almost  everything  else  in  late  years)  have  been  greatly  iii- 
ci'eased.  The  debt  therefore  remains  the  same  as  seven  years 
ago.  A  strenuous  effort  to  keep  this  debt  within  hs  i)rcsont  bound.s, 
and  as  soon  as  possible  to  cancel  it  in  whole  or  in  [)art,  cannot  be 
too  warmly  recommended. 

Perhaps  there  is  no  better  place  than  this  to  give  a  list  of  such 
prominent  benefactions  as  have  been  received  by  the  society  and 
placed  on  record.  The  names  of  those  yet  living,  who,  by  their 
generosity  to  the  society,  have  won  a  place  in  memory  and  esteem, 
are  not  given,  it  being  believed  they  would  shrink  from  any  public 
notice  of  their  gifts  during  this  mortal  life.  The  acts  of  none  such, 
however,  are  unrecorded  or  forgotten. 

In  1719  a  bell  was  presented  by  John  Frizell,  a  merchant  of 
Boston.  Its  weight  was  about  three  hundred  pounds.  It  was  con- 
tinued in  use  till  the  old  house  was  taken  down,  in  1802 ;  it  was 
then  sold  to  the  town  of  Charlton,  in  Worcester  County,  and 
another  bell  procured.  The  present  bell  was  procured  in  1853, 
being  placed  in  the  belfry  by  the  city,  in  lieu  of  one  which  had 
been  destroyed  by  the  Fire  Alarm  in  the  service  of  the  city.  Its 
weight  is  about  two  thousand  pounds. 

In  1742  a  legacy  was  given  by  Elder  Caleb  Lyman,  one  of  the 
original  founders  of  the  church  in  1714,  one  of  its  first  Deacons, 
and  one  of  its  first  ruling  Elders.  He  died  Nov.  17,  1742,  aged 
65  years.  The  following  extract  from  his  will  states  the  terms 
of  his  bequest :  —  "I  give  to  the  minister  and  other  officers  of  the 
Church  of  Christ  at  the  North  End  of  Boston,  to  which  I  belong, 
and  to  their  successors  for  ever,  the  sum  of  five  hundred  pounds, 
in  trust,  for  the  uses  hereafter  mentioned  ;  that  is  to  say,  the  inter- 
est thereof  to  be  paid  yearly  and  every  year  for  ever  to  and  for  the 
use,  benefit,  and  behalf  of  such  person  or  persons  as  shall  be  the 
widow  or  widows  of  the  present  or  succeeding  minister  or  ministers 
of  the  said  church,  during  the  time  that  she  or  they  shall  happen 
to  continue  the  widow  or  widows  of  such  minister  or  ministers. 
But  when  and  as  often  as  there  shall  be  none  of  the  ministers' 
widows  living,  I  give  the  interest  of  the  said  sum  of  five  hundred 
pounds  to  the  minister  or  ministers  of  the  said  church  during  such 
time  or  times  as  there  shall  be  no  such  widow  or  widows  survivino-. 

o 

And  my  will  and  order  is,  that  the  ministers  and  other  officers  of 


32 

the  said  church  let  out  the  said  sum  of  five  hundred  pounds  at 
interest,  on  good  security,  for  the  use  or  uses  aforesaid,  and  to  and 
for  no  other  uses,  intents,  or  purposes  whatsoever." 

July,  1750,  a  large  folio  Bible  was  presented  by  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Holmes. 

In  1804,  the  pulpit  and  decorations  were  presented  by  the  ladies 
of  the  society.     Cost  $  501.67. 

In  the  same  year  the  clock  still  in  use  was  presented  by  Captain 
Nathaniel  Goodwin.     Its  cost  was  one  hundred  and  ten  dollars. 

In  1822,  a  legacy  was  left  by  Captain  Seth  Webber,  in  the  fol- 
lowing terms  :  "  To  the  Treasurer  for  the  time  being  of  the  New 
North  Society,  five  hundred  dollars,  to  be  distributed  at  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  worthy  pastor,  Mr.  Parkman,  amongst  the  poor  of 
that  society." 

In  1854,  a  Communion-table  was  given  by  the  ladies  of  the 
society.  By  the  ladies  also  of  the  Eliot  Benevolent  Association 
in  connection  with  the  New  North  Sunday  School  Association,  the 
Vestry  has  been  extensively  repaired  and  improved  during  the 
past  season.  Generous  subscriptions  have  also  been  made  by  the 
gentlemen  worshipping  in  the  New  North  Church  towards  furnish, 
ing  the  church,  and  for  other  commendable  purposes. 

As  nearly  every  piece  of  the  Communion  Service  was  a  gift,  it 
seems  proper  to  insert  an  account  of  it  among  the  donations. 

"  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  COMMUNION  TLATE  BELONGING  TO 
THE  NEW  NORTH  CHURCH. 

Taken  November  6,  1775,  by  1)k.  A.  Eliot. 

With  the  several   Inscriptions  on  the  Vessels.* 

"  1.  A  Tankard.  — '  New  North  Church,  Oct.  20,  1714.' 

"2.  A  Cup  with  two  handles.  — '  Ex  Done  C.  Lyman,  to  y" 

New  North  Church,  Oct.  20,  1714.' 

"  3.  A  Tankard.  —'  Given  by  John  Baker,  to  the  New  North 

Church,  1714.' 

"4.  A  Tankard.  —  '  New  North  Church,  Oct.  20,  1714.' 

"  5.  A  Tankard.  — '  This  belongs  to  the  New  North  Church.' 

"G.  A  Cup  with  two  handles.  —  'This   belongs  to  the   New 

North  Church.' 


*  These  arc  of  pure  silver,  and  are  all  in  use  at  the  present  time,  1854. 


33 

"  7.  A  Cup.  — '  Ex  Dono  —  Elias  Parkman,  to  y'  New  North 
Church.' 

"  8.  A  Cup.  — '  Ex  Dono  —  N.  Loring,  to  New  North  Church, 
1716.' 

"  9.  A  Cup.  — '  New  North  Church  Cup,  1717.' 

"  10.  A  Tankard.  — '  The  Gift  of  John  Frizell  unto  the  New 
Church  of  Christ  at  the  North  End  of  Boston,  1718.' 

"11.  A  Cup.  —  'Given  by  Mr.  Samuel  Barrett  to  the  New 
North  Church,  1723.' 

"12.  A  Cup  with  two  handles. —' The  Gift  of  Mr.  Joshua 
Cheever  to  the  New  North  Church  in  Boston,  1727.' 

"  13.  A  Cup  with  two  handles.  — '  The  Gift  of  Mr.  Samuel 
Barrett  to  the  New  North  Church  of  Christ,  in  Boston,  May  4, 
1728.' 

"  14.  A  Tankard,  with  the  Hutchinson  Arms  in  front,  no  in- 
scription or  date.  The  record,  in  the  handwriting  of  Dr.  A.  Eliot, 
states  that  '  This  was  given  by  the  Hon.  Thomas  Hutchinson, 
Esq.,  in  the  early  days  of  the  Church.' 

"  15.  A  Tankard.  —  '  The  Gift  of  Mr.  John  Harrod,  to  the  New 
North  Church  of  Christ,  in  Boston,  1729.' 

"  16.  A  Tankard.  — '  The  Gift  of  Mrs.  Abiel  Pen  Ruddock, 
tviddoiv,  to  the  New  North  Church  in  Boston.' 

"  17.  A  Can.  i  There  is  no  Inscription  on  these  Cans  ;  they  were 

"  18.  A  Can.  j  given  by  Deacon  Grant  and  Deacon  John  Barrett. 

"  19.  A  large  Flagon.  —  Given  by  Mrs.  Hunnewell. 

"  20.  A  large  Flagon.  — '  Gift  of  Mrs.  Rebecca  Waters,  to  the 
New  North  Church  in  Boston,  of  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Webb  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Eliot  are  Pastors.' 

"21.  A  large  Flagon.  —  'Given  by  Elder  Cheever,  July  23, 
1750.' 

"  22.  A  Basin,  for  baptizing. — '  The  Gift  of  Mr.  David  Farnunj 
to  the  New  North  Church  in  Boston,  N.  E.,  1722.' 

"  23.  A  Strainer,  and  four  large  Platters." 


*#*  In  the  preparation  of  this  Discourse  and  the  accompanying 
Notes,  I  have  examined  carefully  the  voluminous  Records  of  the 
Church  and  Society ;  also  a  pamphlet  entitled  "  Historical  Notices 
of  the  New  North  Church,"  and  many  sermons  relating  to  its 
history,  by  Rev.  Drs.  Eliot  and  Parkman.  I  have  been  also  much 
aided  in  my  researches  by  Mr.  John  F.  Eliot. 


PHOTOMOUNT 

PAMPHLET  BINOtR 


Mcnuf  actuf«d  by 

GAyLX)RD  BROS.  inc. 

SyracuM,  N.Y. 

Stockton,  Calif. 


%M  ^^V 


BX9834.B7N5.F9 

An  historical  discourse  delivered  in  the 

Princeton  Theological  Semmary-Speer  Librar 


